Play four poker

ABSTRACT

A method of playing a four-card poker game by at least one player and a banker who is preferably also the dealer. The player has the option to wager against the dealer, wager against a predetermined payout schedule, or both. Additional options of a progressive wager and/or a bad beat wager may be made available.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/277,018 filed on Mar. 19, 2001, and U.S. ProvisionalNo. 60/314,503 filed on Aug. 23, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to gaming and to card games. Moreparticularly, the present invention pertains to a method of playing anew type of poker game especially adapted for casino gaming, both inlive table and electronic video formats.

[0003] Gaming establishments continually require new games to offertheir players. Casinos are also in need of games which are easy to playand easy to deal. Such games are generally required to enable eachplayer to play against a banker (who usually also acts a dealer)provided by a casino, rather than against other players. This type ofCasino Poker can provide more revenue to the casino than traditionalpoker because Casino Poker is invariably structured to give the casinoan advantage. Exemplary of Casino Poker are the casino games of“Caribbean Stud Poker”, “Let It Ride”, and “Three Card Poker”. Thesetype games require less space than the traditionally larger tables foundin poker rooms and are dealt much faster.

[0004] In games like Caribbean Stud and Let It Ride the five card pokerhands that the player must make to get a larger payoff are hard to getthus the larger payoffs are infrequent. The player is frustrated becausemany times they will get four cards to a straight or a flush but nothave a good hand. In a three-card game like Three Card Poker the higherhands are made more easily but therefore the payouts are comparativelylow. Therefore there is a need for a game which would bridge the gap inease of making a hand with higher payouts to the player.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an enjoyablenew card game.

[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gamethat is easy to learn and deal.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gamethat makes it easier for a player to make a hand than in five-card pokergames.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gamethat has higher payoffs than a three-card poker game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention discloses a poker game variation in whichone or more players play against the casino. Broadly, the invention isdirected to a poker game variant in which a player has a choice betweenseveral wagers among the following; a wager against a dealer, a wageragainst a predetermined payscale, a bad beat wager, or a progressivewager.

[0010] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, one or more playersinitially place a wager(s) and then five cards are dealt to the playerand five cards are dealt to the dealer. Players would inspect theirhands and decide whether to fold or to continue to play. If the playerwas playing a wager against the dealer and wanted to continue to play,they would place another wager in support of their first wager in theappropriate betting area. The dealer would inspect his/her hand to seeif they qualified. If the dealer did not qualify with a predeterminedrank of cards, the dealer would pay the first wager of the player andreturn the supporting wager. If the dealer had a qualifying hand, thenthe player and the dealer would compare their best four-card hand todetermine the winner. Ties hands would be a push. If the player had madea wager against the dealer and had supported that wager, they would beeligible for a payoff for achieving a predetermined hand rakingregardless of the tanking of the dealer's hand If the player had madeany wagers against achieving a predetermined rank, the dealer would payor take the wagers accordingly.

[0011] In a second embodiment of the invention, one or more playersinitially place bets and then five cards are dealt to the player and sixcards are dealt to the dealer. Players would inspect their hands anddecide whether to fold or to continue to play. If the player was playinga wager against the dealer and wanted to continue to play, they wouldplace another wager in support of their first wager in the appropriatebetting area. In games against the dealer, the player would play theirbest four cards out of five and compare that to the dealer's best fourcards out of six to determine the winner. Tie hands would be a push. Inthis version the dealer would not have to have a qualifying hand tocontinue play. If the player had made any optional wagers againstachieving a predetermined rank, the dealer would pay or take the wagersaccordingly.

[0012] In a third embodiment of the invention, one or more playersinitially place bets and then four cards are dealt to the player andfour cards are dealt to the dealer. Players would inspect their handsand decide whether to fold or to continue to play. If the player wasplaying a wager against the dealer and wanted to continue to play, theywould place another wager in support of their first wager in theappropriate betting area. In games against the dealer, the player wouldplay their four cards against the four cards of the dealer. The dealerwould have to achieve a qualifying hand to continue play against theplayer. If the player had made any bets against achieving apredetermined rank, the dealer would pay or take the bets accordingly.

[0013] A novel gaming layout for use in the casino version of the gameis also disclosed.

[0014] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Inthis respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventionin detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited inits application to the details of construction and to the arrangementsof the components set forth in the following description or illustratedin the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are forthe purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Assuch, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, uponwhich this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis forthe designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying outthe several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstruction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a playing surface for use in playing a card game ofone embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a chart indicating winning poker hands and their payoutsin one example of a wager against a predetermined payscale of thepresent invention;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a chart indicating wing poker hands and their payouts inanother variation of a wager against a predetermined payscale of thepresent invention;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a chart indicating the winning hands and their payoutsfor the Ante Reward of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 5 illustrates one player area of the playing surface shown inFIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a chart indicating payoffs for the Ante and Play wagers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,players play against a casino. However, in jurisdictions where suchgames are not legal, such as in California, one player may be designated“Player-Dealer” and all the other players would play against thePlayer-Dealer. The option to act as Player-Dealer would be offered toeach player in turn. In this specification, the term “Dealer” isintended to refer to either a casino dealer, or a Player-Dealer,whichever is appropriate for the circumstances under which the game ofthe present invention is played.

[0022]FIG. 1 shows a playing surface or table layout 25 on which oneembodiment of the present invention may be played. The layout 25 may bemarked or placed on any suitable surface such as a gaming table. Forexample, the layout may be in the form of a layout cloth supported on asupporting surface. The layout provides a playing area 30 for aplurality of players, for example seven players, and a separate area 35for a banker who also preferably acts as the dealer. Each playing area30 has a number of marked sections or zones 12, 14, 16 for the placingof various wagers by a player as will be described hereinafter.

[0023] Each player takes a place at one of the playing areas 30. Thegame is played in a number of rounds as will be described In each round,each player has the option of playing against the dealer, or wagering onthe rank of his/her hand or playing a combination of these two options.In other variations of the game a player may have additional bettingoptions. The presently preferred embodiment of the present invention isplayed with a standard deck of 52 playing cards, each deck having 13cards in each of four suits.

[0024] At the commencement of the game each player decides whether toplay the particular round by wagering against the dealer, i.e. an “ANTE”wager, by wagering on the value of his/her hand, i.e. a “Pair of Jacksor Better” wager, or both. To play against the dealer a player makes anAnte wager by placing an appropriate wager, such as a token or chip, orwhere permitted, cash, on the section 14 of his/her playing area 30. Thegaming chips may be of any conventional kind and available in a numberof denominations such as are well know within the art. If the playerwishes (alternatively or in addition) to make a wager based on the valueof his/her hand, the player places an appropriate token or chip on “Pairof Jacks or Better” in section 12 of his/her playing area 30. In thepresent example, the rules of the game provide that payouts will be madeaccording to a displayed payout schedule with “Pair of Jacks or Better”payouts starting at a pair of jacks or better. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, hands are preferably ranked according to thefollowing hierarchy, though other rankings may be used: Highest RoyalFlush: AKQJ in the same suit (suit has no rank) Four of a Kind Four ofone tank AAAA highest KKKK next highest ranking four of a kind, and soon until 2222 lowest ranking four of a kind Straight Flush Four of onesuit in sequence AKQJ highest ranking straight flush KQJ10 next highestranking straight flush, and so on until 4, 3, 2, A lowest rankingstraight flush Flush Four of one suit AKQ10 highest ranking AKQ9 nexthighest ranking, and so on, until 532A lowest ranking flush StraightFour of mixed suits in sequence AKQJ highest ranking AKQ10 next highestranking, and so on, until 4, 3, 2, A lowest ranking straight Three of aKind Three of one rank AAA highest KKK next highest rank, and so on,until 222 lowest ranking three of a kind Two Pair Two different, two ofsame rank AAKK highest-ranking two pair AAQQ next highest ranking twopair, and so on, until 3322 lowest ranking two pair One Pair Two of onerank AAKQ highest AAKJ next highest ranking pair, and so on, until 4322lowest ranking pair High Card (A hand comprising none of the above)AKQ10 highest AKQ9 next highest ranking high card, and so on, until 6432lowest ranking high card ACE is high, but can be low in 4-3-2-A Sequence

[0025] The payout schedule may be varied in accordance with the rules ofthe game and/or the casino. For example another version of the game mayeliminate the royal flush hand and have the following rankings;

[0026] Four of a Kind

[0027] Straight Flush

[0028] Three of a Kind

[0029] Flush

[0030] Straight (A-2-3-4 is the lowest straight)

[0031] Two Pair

[0032] One Pair

[0033] High Card

[0034] One of the wagering options in one embodiment of the presentinvention is a “Pair of Jacks or Better”. An example of one preferredpayout schedule for that wager is as follows;

[0035] Pair of Jacks or Better Pays

[0036] PAIR OF JACKS OR BETTER . . . 1 TO 1

[0037] TWO PAIR . . . 2 TO 1

[0038] THREE OF A KIND . . . 3 TO 1

[0039] STRAIGHT . . . 4 TO 1

[0040] FLUSH . . . 4 TO 1

[0041] STRAIGHT FLUSH . . . 25 TO 1

[0042] FOUR OF A KIND . . . 75 TO 1

[0043] ROYAL FLUSH . . . 200 TO 1

[0044] Another of the wagering options in a second embodiment of thepresent invention is a “Pair of Queens or Better”. An example of onepreferred payout schedule for that wager is as follows;

[0045] Pair of Queens or Better Pays

[0046] PAIR OF QUEENS OR BETTER . . . 1 TO 1

[0047] TWO PAIR . . . 2 TO 1

[0048] THREE OF KIND . . . 4 TO 1

[0049] STRAIGHT . . . 4 TO 1

[0050] FLUSH . . . 4 TO 1

[0051] STRAIGHT FLUSH . . . 40 TO 1

[0052] FOUR OF A KIND . . . 100 TO 1

[0053] ROYAL FLUSH . . . 250 TO 1

[0054] The payout schedules are preferably displayed in a convenientmanner and location. At times the payscales for different wagers and anyextra reward payouts will be displayed on the playing layout itself andat other times the payouts will be on mobile display material.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thetwo wagering options are independent, so that a player may wager unequalamounts on the ANTE and PAIR OF JACKS OR BETTER options.

[0056] When the above wagers are in place, the dealer preferablyshuffles the cards (manually or otherwise) and then deals a five-cardhand to each player and him/herself.

[0057] The cards may initially be dealt to the players face up or facedown depending upon casino policy.

[0058] When the cards have been dealt, any player who has placed an ANTEwager inspects his/her hand and determines whether he/she wishes eitherto fold and forfeit the ANTE wager, or to continue. If the player wishesto continue, according to this illustrated embodiment, the player mustplace a PLAY wager, which must be of proportionate value to and ispreferably the same as the ANTE wager. The PLAY wager is made by placingan appropriate chip on the section 16 marked “PLAY” on the player'splaying area 30. When the player has made the wager then he/she placesthe cards in the PLAY area below the PLAY wager section 30.

[0059] If a player forfeits his/her ANTE wager, the dealer takes thewager and the player's cards are discarded before the game proceeds.

[0060] “PAIR OF JACKS OR BETTER” wagers are not affected to this point.However, a player playing “PAIR OF JACKS OR BETTER” only, places his/hercards in the playing area if they wish to continue the hand. If theplayer wishes to forfeit or fold their hand they would indicate such bytossing their hand towards the dealer. If the player is also playingagainst the dealer with an ANTE wager, he/she must make a PLAY wager ifhe/she has a wining PAIR OF JACKS OR BETTER wager.

[0061] The dealer reveals his/her cards and arranges the cards to showthe best four-card poker hand. The dealer then in turn reveals eachother player's cards (if they are not already visible), compares theplayer's best four card poker hand to that of the dealer, and resolveseach player's wager(s).

[0062] All players with ANTE and PLAY wagers are automatically winnersif the dealer does not have a KING/QUEEN high hand or better. This rankmay be varied in accordance with the rules of the game or of the casino.Players are preferably paid even money on the ANTE wager and their PLAYwager is returned.

[0063] If the dealer has a KING/QUEEN high hand or better, each player'shand is compared with that of the dealer. If the player's hand ishigher, the player is paid even money on both the ANTE and PLAY wagers.If the player's hand is lower, the player loses his/her ANTE and PLAYwagers. If the dealer and player have exactly the same hand, then thehand is a push and the player may either withdraw his/her wager, leaveit, or adjust it for the next round.

[0064] Preferably an additional payout is made by the dealer to anyplayer who is in play against the dealer, i.e. who has made an ANTE andPLAY wager, and who has a achieved a hand of a predetermined high rank.The ranks to which such extra “ANTE REWARD” payouts are made may bepredetermined by the rules of the game and/or the casino. The payoutswould preferably be based on the ANTE wager amount. These payouts areindependent of the results of the game against the dealer. One preferredpayout schedule is as follows:

[0065] Ante Reward Pays

[0066] STRAIGHT FLUSH . . . 3 TO 1

[0067] FOUR OF KIND . . . 8 TO 1

[0068] ROYAL STRAIGHT FLUSH . . . 20 TO 1

[0069] Players who have wagered on the value of the hand (i.e. PAIR ofJACKS or BETTER) win if the hand is at least a pair of jacks and arepaid by the dealer according to the posted payscale. These payouts areindependent of the results of the game against the dealer.

[0070] This procedure completes a single round of the game. Play thencontinues in another round, with players commencing by making ANTEand/or PAIR of JACKS or BETTER wagers.

[0071] The novel methods of the present invention may be playedutilizing playing cards or as an electrical or electro-mechanical devicesuch as a slot machine. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatsuitable controls can be provided for receiving the necessary input andtherefore will not be described in detail herein. While the game may beplayed on a single slot machine, it is within the scope of the presentinvention to provide a multi-unit video format wherein a plurality ofplayers may play against each other and/or against a dealer.

[0072] From the present description, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications may be made without departure fromthe scope of the present invention. For example, the naming of thedifferent wagers, the naming and/or ranking of any hand, the changing ofthe necessity of qualifying hands for both the dealer and/or the player,the payout schedules, and predetermined winning or losing ranks may bevaried in accordance with the rules of the game or the requirements ofthe casino. The table game layout may be varied from that described andshown. The rules may be varied, or additional rules imposed, within thescope of the invention.

[0073] In particular, there may be introduced a further option of aplayer wagering on a high odds payout wager or on a fixed or variablejackpot which is paid out in accordance with the rules of the casino ona specific hand, or when a high ranked hand is beaten by the dealer. Anexample would be in a game wherein the player is dealt five cards andhas the option to wager on a progressive using these five cards forgetting a royal flush or other high ranked hand. This progressive optionmay be linked to other jackpots offered in the casino. Bad beat typewagers could have reduced payouts and if desired consolation payoutscould be made to players having hands less than the premium hand/and orto other players who have taken part in the jackpot.

[0074] Where the game incorporates a jackpot or a numerical hand valuewager, separate designated wagering areas may be provided for thesewagers. These may be incorporated at any convenient position on theplayer's playing area or on a display stand.

[0075] While the game is described particularly for play in a gamingestablishment, it is not limited in this respect and may also be playedfor example on a board game, a video game, a scratch card, a slotmachine, or the like.

We claim:
 1. A method of playing a game comprising the steps of: (a)providing one standard deck of playing cards; (b) at least one playermaking a wager on any allowable combination of offered bets consistingof the following; (1) a first wager against a dealer (ante); (2) a wageragainst a predetermined payscale; (3) a bad beat wager; (4) aprogressive wager; (c) dealing X amount of cards to said player; (d)dealing Y amount of cards to a dealer; (e) said player either (1)folding his or her hand, thereby withdrawing from the game and losinghis or her wager(s), or (2) if wagering against the dealer, beforeseeing the dealer's hand, placing a second wager (play) in support ofthe first wager of exactly Z times the first wager or (3) if wageringagainst a predetermined payscale, electing to remain in the game; (f)comparing the best four card poker hand of the dealer and said playerafter discarding any additional cards; (g) resolving said poker wagerby; (1) making a payout to said player by the dealer when said playerhas wagered against a predetermined payscale and has achieved a rankthat is either higher than or equal to a predetermined rank; (2) payingsaid player's is wager (ante) against the dealer if the dealer does notachieve at predetermined qualifying rank; (3) paying said player boththe first and second wagers against the dealer if said player achieved ahigher ranking hand than the dealer; (4) paying said player, who hasmade a first wager against the dealer and has supported said wager, forachieving a predetermined ranking hand an amount (ante reward) from apredetermined payscale, regardless of the rank of the dealer's hand. (5)taking said player's wager against a predetermined payscale that doesnot achieve a wining hand; (6) taking said player's first and secondwagers against the dealer if the dealer's hand outranks theirs; (7)taking said player's first wager, if said player does not achieve apredetermined qualifying hand; (8) pushing said player's first andsecond wager if said player has exactly the same ranking hand as thedealer; (9) pushing said player's second wager (play) if the dealer didnot achieve a predetermined qualifying hand;
 2. The method according toclaim 1 wherein: in step (b), the allowable single wagers are a wageragainst the dealer or a wager against a predetermined payscale.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 wherein: In step (b), any progressive wager must bemade in conjunction with a wager against a payscale or a wager againstthe dealer.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein: In step (b), any bad beatwager must be made in conjunction with a wager against a payscale or awager against the dealer.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein: Instep (c), X=4, 5, or
 6. 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein: Instep (d), Y=4, 5, or
 6. 7. The method according to claim 1 wherein: Instep (e) (2), Z=1, 2, or 3
 8. The method according to claim 1 wherein:In step (g) (2), the dealer qualifying hand is King/Queen or better. 9.The method according to claim 8 wherein: The dealer qualifying hand canbe any predetermined hand ranking.
 10. The method according to claim 1wherein: In step (g) (2), the dealer does not have to qualify and doesnot automatically pay said player's ante for not attaining apredetermined hand ranking.
 11. The method according to claim 1 wherein:In step (g) (4) the ante reward payout is based upon the amount of saidplayer's first wager against the dealer.
 12. The method according toclaim 1 wherein: In step (g) (7), said player does not have to qualifyand does not automatically lose to the dealer for not attaining apredetermined hand ranking.
 13. The method of playing a card gameaccording to claim 1 wherein: In step (g) (7), said player's qualifyinghand is an Ace/King/Queen or better.
 14. The method of playing a cardgame according to claim 13 wherein: The qualifying hand for said playercould be any predetermined hand ranking.